System for carrying out mimic bombing attacks



A. W. PARSONS SYSTEM FOR CARRYING OUT MIMIC BOMBING ATTACKS Filed March 27.1925 2 Shets-Shaat 1 W v Q o O O O O I O O O INVENTOR o o o 1/3 BY ATTORNEYS 1,625,678 Apnl 19, 1927. A. w- PARSONS SYSTEM FOR CARRYING OUT MIMIC BDMBING ATTACKS Filed March 27. 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 minim.

INVENTOR ATTORNEYS Patented Apr. 19, 1927.

are starts teas-sis TENT Q FECE.

ARTHUR W. PAR-SONS, OF MIAMI, FLORIDA.

SYSTEM FOR CARRYING OUT MIMIC BOMBING ATTACKS.

Application filed March 27, 1925. Serial No. 18,931,

This invention relates to a system for carrying out mimic bombing attacks upon imaginary moving battleships and has for its general object the provision of a means for promoting accuracy in the directing of "F bombing attack or expedition instigated against a war vessel or fleet of such vessels.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a progressively moving target in combination with means for effecting vari- 13 one changes in the course of travel of the target simulating probable courses which a battleship might follow in maneuvering to avoid an aerial attack.

A further object ofthe invention is to J provide a means by which any desired speed of travel of the target may be effected within limits of minimum to maximum battleship speed.

Another object of the invention is to pro- 3 vide a means for recording the exact location of the imaginary battleship at any instant during its course of travel.

A further object of the invention is to provide a means for readily determining i) with what accuracy, (luring target practice, any bomb may have been directed at the imaginary warship.

A further object of the invention is to provide a means for setting up, during practice, artificial conditions such as smoke screens or the like, simulating as close as possible actual conditions under which an attached battleship might be most likely to ope ate.

ll Other objects and certain advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which L3 Figure 1 is a diagrammatic representation tion of a post or other support upon which is mounted electrically ignited flares.

Figure 3 is a. view partly in section, partly in plan, and partly diagrammatic, illustrating a modified form of signal adapted to be controlled from a central'station located on the field.

Figure 4 is a fragmental view showing in enlarged elevation the upper end of the signal shown in Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a detail view showing certain operative elements of the signal shown in Figure 3.

Figure 6 is a view in elevation of a dummy bomb having a time recording mechanism incorporated therein. V

In the drawings, wherein for the purpose of'illustration, I have shown certain embodiments of my invention more or less ,dia grammatic and certain other embodiments more or less in detail, the numeral 5 indi-,

cates a field or area which may be of any desired dimensions. For the sake of convenience, however, I have shown the field so proportioned as to represent a width of one nautical mile and a length of twonautical miles. Over the field there may be stationed at equidistant points 6 certain signalshereinafter more particularly described, which are adapted to be controlled from a station 7 located centrally of the field. The points .6 are herein represented as being located approximately one thousand feet apart, there being six points to each nautical mile pioili longitudinally and transversely of the e The signals which are adapted to be placed at the points 6 may be either of the type shown in Figure 2 and indicated as a whole by the numeral 8, or of the type shown in Figure 3 and indicated as a whole by the numeral 9. The signal 8 comprises a post or stick 10 adapted to be driven inn) the ground, and carries at its upper end a pair of brackets 11 and 12 into which are adapted to be inserted flares 13 and i i. For .7

arpurpose hereinafter more clearly appreciated' the composition of material entering into the flare 13 may be such that when the same is ignited a red flare is produced whereas the composition entering into the flare 1% may be such that when the same is ignited a more or less dense black smoke is emitted. "lhese flares are each connect-ed electriralh with a source of electrical energy 15 through electric circuits indicated respectively by the numerals l6 and 17. The circuits lfi and 17 are adapted to be closed through the instrumentality of push buttons 18 and 19 associated respectively with switchboards 20 and 21, located at the central station 7. These switchboards may be associated respectively with timing devices 22 and 23 also located at the central station 7, the timing devices being of such a. design as to record the exact time at which the flares 13 and 1% were ignited. If desired, however, the recording device 23 may be dispensed with inasmuch as it may notbe of any great importance to record the time of firing of the flare 1& which is adapted to produce a black smoke.

The type of signal shown in Figure 3, which may be substituted for or used instead of the signal shown in Figure 2, is repre as mechanically operated target 2% which comprises a stick or mast 25 adapted to be driven into the ground and carries at its upper end a ring 26 to which are pivotally coimected a plurality of arms 27 having *cured theretoa cover 28 adapted ik, be drawn taut when the arms 27 are exl as shown in dotted lines. Upon the or mast 25 there is journaled a rotatscrew 29 carrying at its lower end a ted l iibiif be el gear 30, which meshes with a similar adapted to be driven through the instrunientality of an electric motor 32. Upon the worm 29 there is mounted a screwthreadet runner coimected a plurality of risers 3d, the risers being in turn pivotally connected to the arms 27 intermediate their ,PClS. The motor 32 1s adapted to be controlled from the control gear 3 .station 7 through the instrun'ientality of a switch 35 which, when moved into engagement with a contact 36, closes the motor circuit through the source of energy 37 and the conductors 38 thus causing the motor 32 to op rate and lift the runner 33 to the uppermost end of the worm 2-9. As the nut moves up along the worm 2-9 the ribs 2'( are extended from full line position to dotted line position, thereby projecting the cover trfpresent a relatively large target. The runner 33 upon reaching the upper end of the screw 29 disengages its screw-threaded connection and rides upon the ledge 39, in

which position it is maintained regardless of whether the motor is stopped or is permitted to continue in its'operation. When it is desired to lower the targetthe switch is moved into engagement with the con tact 4:0, thus closing the motor reversing circuit through the source of electrical 3'? and the conductors 41. Upon the reversing circuit through the closin motorthc worm 29 is rotated in an opposite ection whereupon the runner 33, under :hc influence o1 gravity, moves into. screwhreaded engagement with the screw 29 and d is thereafter run down along the screw d out of screw-threaded engagement with same. As the runner approaches the end of its travel it engages a compression spring 12 which is seated upon the gear 30. 'ihe spring L2 is thereby placed under sufticient compression by the time the runner to which are pivotally becomes disengaged from the screw 39 to urge the runner into intimate engagement with the end of the screw so that screwthreaded engagement between the runner and the screw may be readily established when it is desired to again present the tar- In order to guide the runner 33 into screw-threaded engagement with the screw 39 at its lower end thereof, 1 have provided a collar 43 which is adapted to encircle the screw even alter the runner has become disengaged from the same. The runner is also provided with a similar collar 4 which is adapted to encircle the upper end of the screw alter the runner has become disengaged therefrom. These collars, as will be readily appreciated, are adapted to snugly iii; the peripheral surfaces oi the screw and due to such snugness in lit starting of the runner into screw-threaded engagement with the screw from each end thereof is positively insured.

in carrying out my invention it is just as essential to know the exact time at which the target 2% is presented as it is to know the time at which the flare 13 is ignited, and to this end the switch 35 may be so associated with the switchboard 20 and recording device 22 that the exact time at which the switch is moved into engagement with the contact 36 is recorded.

Upon the stick or mast 25 of the target 24 there may be arranged a suitable receptacle 45 adapted for the reception of a flare d6 identical with that indicated by the numeral 14: for the purpose of emitting a volume of black smoke at a proper time with respect to the raising of the target. This flare may be ignited through a suitable source of electrical energy 47 and conductors e8 by means of a push button d9 as will be readily appreciated. If desired, the push button L9 may be associated with the panel 21 and arranged to cooperate with the timing mechanism 23 for recording the time at which the flare 46 is ignited.

In Figure 6 I have disclosed more or less diagrammatically a dummy bomb adapted to be directed at the imaginary target from an aeroplane. The bomb is indicated as a whole by the numeral 50 and comprises a body portion 51 into which is incorporated an appropriate type of stop-watch 52 adapted to be stopped through suitable mechanism, not disclosed. which is adapted to be set into operation by the impact atforded at the time the bomb strikes the ground to record the instant of impact.

The bodyjportion 51 of the bomb may be heights it becomes desirable to provide means for preventing penetration of the earths surface to any material extent and to this end the body portion of the bomb or at least the nose 53 thereof may be .constructed of suitable material adapted to flatten out to a sufiicient degree to retard the penetration of the bomb upon striking the earth and thus preventing its being 11nduly buried.

In practice one or more aeroplanes may be provided with any suitable number of bombs, of the type shown in Figure 6 and indicated by the numeral 50, preparatory to carrying out a mimic battleship bombing expedition. Before the aeroplanes .are started on their flight the clock mechanism 52 of the several bombs is set in accordance with the time indicated by the clock mechanism, not shown, incorporated into the timin devices 22 and .23. The aeroplanes may be started on their flight simultaneously or otherwise and after a prescribed period of time the imaginary target or supposed bat tleship is started on a definite course predetermined by the operator or operators at the central control station but unknown to the aviators. Such a course, for example,

may be laid out to correspond to the curve A passing through certain positions. In order to effect or simulate the movement of a battleship over this course the flares 13 are ignited progressively at the points through which the curve A passes; The time lapsing between successive ignitions determines the speed'of the imaginary target. The imaginary target may,therefore, be made to travel as fast or as .slowly as desired throughout its entire course or any portion thereof, the speed being dependent upon the speed at which the push buttons 18 are progressively operated. In order to enable the operator or operators at the signal station to definitely follow a prescribed course the posts may be numbered and the buttons leading tofthe respective posts may be correspondingly numbered. For example, the points through which the curve A passes may be numbered 3, 10, 15, 21, 29, 31, 41, d3, 51, 56 and 64:, respectively. In order, therefore, to direct the imaginary target along the curve A only the buttons 18 at'the central control station identified by those numbers need be considered and these buttons are operated .in the order above named. As previously described, the exact time of igniting a flare 13 at a given post is recorded by the recording mechanism 22. This enables one to definitely ascertain, after the course has been run, the exact position at any given instant of the imaginary target in its course. The foremost flare at the time of ignition represents the position of the ships bow, Whereas the adjacent ignited flare at the same time indicates the approxscore a direct hit.

imate position of the stern of the imaginary battleship, in the event the posts are spaced from each other, both longitudinally and transversely of the field, a distance of one thousand feet. The imaginary target, therefore, at the time the foremost flare is ignited is definitely known to the aviators and .it is their object to so direct the bombs as to These bombs may be dropped simultaneously with the firing of the foremostflare or any time thereafter prior to the next succeeding flare, but in the latter case the exact location of the imaginary target may be onlyapproximated by the aviator. XVhether or not a direct hit has been scored may be readily determined after the course has been run by noting the time that each bomb struck the ground, the time of striking being recorded by the stop-watch mechanism 52, and thereafter checking'this time with the position of the battleship at that instant. For example, if a bomb is found located in the position 13 and is recorded as having struck the ground at ten minutes past ten and the time recording mechanism 22 shows that the bow of the battleship had just reached point 29 the distance by which the bomb missed the battleship may be readily calculated; If, on the other hand, a bomb is found'located at point C or in the very near proximity thereto, say ten feet from point C, and the watch mechanism 52 indicates that this bomb struck the earth at twelve minutes past ten it then becomes positively known that a direct hit has been scored if the recording mechanism 22 shows that the bow of the battleship had passed the point '29 at such a time and at such a speed that midship passed directly over point C at the time corresponding to the time at which the bomb'was' recorded by the stop-watch mechanism 52 as having struck the ground.

In the event the form of target shown in Figure 3 is employed in preference to the form shown in Figure 2 the same scheme of manipulation is carried out to effect the travel of an imaginary battleship on a given course. The target shown in Figure 3 is presented to view by lifting the cover 28 to P its extended position, the time of lifting being recorded by the recording device 22. The one advantage to be derived, from the target shown in Figure 3 over that shown in Figure 2 is that the former may be reset fitom'ithe central control station withoutnecessitating the inconvenience of having to journey to the several points intersected by the course of travel of the imaginary battleship. The resetting is accomplished simply by reversing the motor as has been previously described.

In the event it is desired to simulate a' smoke screen, the smoke flares 1% of a given set of posts may be ignited prior to or subsequent to the ignition of the corresponding target flares 13 through the instrumentality of push bott-ons 19 adapted to be operated from the central control station as previously described. These push buttons may be numbered as in the case of push buttons 18 to enable the operator to ignite smoke fiares throughout a course indent-ical with the course being pursued by the imaginary battleship or any course in the vicinity of the course over which the imaginary battleship is traveling; and so it is in the case of the type of target shown in Figure 3 inasmuch as I have provided each target with a smoke flare a6 adapted to be controlled through the instrumentality of push buttons l9 as previously described. r v

For the sake of economy the field may be provided with a plurality of definitely known courses rather than with a target located at each of the points 6 without departing from the spirit of the invention. In such a case certain sections of one course may be utilized as a section of another course, as for example, the portion of the course A lying intermediate points 56 and ()4 may be blended with course D and the portion lying intermediate the points 3 and may also be blended with course D. lhis blending may be carried out in any number of combinations to obtain a similar number of different courses with the use of but a comparatively small number of signals as will be readily appreciated.

Regardless of whether a plurality of de fined courses are employ-ed or the field is provided with a signal device at each of the points indicated by the numeral 6, the aviator may be enabled to practice directing bombs at an imaginary target which simulates a warship operating under such conditions and maneuvering in such a manner as might be expected in actual warfare. The invention not only enables the aviator to practice the dropping of bombs with the view to increasing the efiiciency of aircraft warfare but it presents the possibility'of enabling observers to accurately determine the degree of efficiency with which abombing squadron may be expected to operate in bombing an enemy fleet in time of actual warfare.

Having thus described my invention what I claim is:

1. In a system of the character described a field, a plurality of operable stationary target devices located on said field and spaced from each other, and'means operatively connected with said devices for so actuating said devices as to progressively present a succession of targets simulating a constantly forwardly moving body.

2. In a system of the character described a field, a plurality of operable target devices located on said field and spaced from each other, and means for actuating said devicesin a progressive orderfover a prescribed c-ourse to present a succession of targets simulating a continuously forwardly moving body.

3.In a system of the character described a field, a plurality of operable target devices located on said field and spaced from each other, and selective means for actuating certain of said devices in order to pre sent a succession of targets over a predetermined course simulating a moving body.

i. In a system of the character described a field, a plurality of operable target devices located on said field and spaced from each other, and common control means for selectively actuating said devices to project a succession of targets.

5. In a system of the character desc 'ibed a field, a plurality of operable target de' vices located on said field ant spaced from each other, common control means for selectively actuating said devices to project succession of targets, and means for re cording the time at which each of the said targets is arojected.

6. In a system of the character described a field, a plurality of operable target devices located on said field and spaced from each other, and common control means for actuating said devices in order over a prescribed course to progressively present a succession of targets simulating a continuously forwardly moving body.

7. In a system of the character described a field, a plurality of operable target devices locatedon said field and spaced from each other, means for actuating said devices in order over a prescribed course to present a succession of targets, and means for recording the time at which each of said targets is presented. V

8. In a system of the character described a field, a plurality of operable target devices located on said field, and means common to all of said devices adapted to be so operated as to actuate in order only the devices common to a given course to progressively present a succession of targets simulating a con-- stantly forwardly moving body. k

9. In a system of the character described a field. a plurality of operable target devices located on said field, means common to all of said devices adapted to be so operated as to actuate in order only the devices common to a given course to present a succession of targets, and means for recording the time at which each target is operated.

10. In a system of the character described a field, a plurality of electrically controlled operable target devices located on said field, and means for actuating said electrically controlled devices in order over a prescribed course to progressively present a succession of targets simulatinga constantly forwardly moving body.

11. In a system of the character described a field, a plurality of operable target devices located on said field and spaced from each other, means for actuating said devices in order to present a succession of targets, and operable means adapted to be actuated to present an obstruction tending to obscure said targets from vision.

12. In a system of the character described a field, a plurality of operable target devices located on said field and spaced from each other, means for actuating said devices in order to present a succession of targets, operable means adapted to be actuated to present an obstruction tending to obscure said targets from vision, and means for actuating the last named means.

13. In a system of the character described a field, a plurality of operable target devices located on said field and spaced from each other, means for actuating said devices in order to present a succession of targets, and operable means associated with said target devices and adapted to be actuated to present a shield tending to obscure said targets from view.

14. In a system of the character described a field. a plurality of operable target devices located on said field and spaced from each other, means for actuating said devices in order to present a succession of targets, and

smoke emitting devices adaptedto be ignited to produce a smoke screen in the vicinity of the presented targets.

Y 15. In a system of the character described a field, a plurality of operable target devices located on said field and spaced from each other, means for actuating said devices in order to present a succession of targets, smoke emitting devices adapted to beignited to produce a smoke screen in the vicinity of the presented targets, and selective means for igniting predetermined smoke emitting devices.

16/In a system of the character described a field, a plurality of operable target devices located on said field and spaced from each other, means for actuating said devices in order to present a succession of targets, smoke emitting devices adapted to be ignited to produce a smoke screen in the vicinity of the presented targets, and electric means for selectively actuating certain of said smoke emitting devices.

17 In a system 01 the character described a field, a plurality of operable target devices located on said field and spaced from each other, means for actuating said devices in order to present a succession of targets, smoke emitting devices adapted to be ignited to produce a smoke screen in the vicinity of the presented targets, electric means.- fqr lectively actuating certain of said smoke emitting devices, and means for recordlng the time at which each of said smoke emitting devices is actuated.

18 In a system of the character described, a field, a plurality of missiles adapted to be directed from aeroplanes toward a ground target and including recording devices for recording the time at which the respective missiles strike the ground, a plurality of operable target devices located on said field, means for actuating said devices in order to present a succession of targets, and means for recording the time at which each target is presented.

19. In a system of the character described, a field, a plurality of missiles adapted to be directed from aeroplanes toward a ground target and including recording devices for recording the time at which the-respective missiles strike the ground, a pluralityof operable target devices located on said field, means for actuating said devices in order over a prescribed course to present a succession of targets, and means for recording. the time at which each of said targets is pre sented. i

20. In a system of the character described, a field, a plurality of missiles adapted to be directed from aeroplanes toward a ground target and including recording devices for recording the time at which the respective missiles strike theground, a plurality of opcrable target devices located on said field, common control means for selectively actuating said devices to project a succession of targets along a predeterminedcourse, and means for recording the time at which each target is projected.

21. In a system of the character described, a field, a missile adapted to be directed from an aeroplane toward said field and including a recording device for recording the time at which said missile strikes the ground, a plurality of operable target devices located on said field, and means for so actuating saiddevices as to present a succession of targets. a

' 22. a system of the character described, a field, a missile adapted'to be directed from an aeroplane toward said field and including a recording devi e for recording the time at which said missile strikes the ground, a plurality of operable target devices located on said field, means for so actuating said devices as to present a succession of targets, and means for recording the time at which each target is presented.

23. In a system of the character described,

a field, a missile adapted to be directed from 7 an aeroplane toward said f ld and including a recording, device for recording the time at which said missile strikes said field, a plurality of operable target devices located on said field, means tor actuating said de vice over a prescribed course to present a a succession of targets.

2%. In a system of the character described, :1 held, a missile adapted to be directed from an aeroplane toward said field and including a recording device for recording the time at which said missile strikes said field, a plurality of operable target devices lo cated on said field, means for actuating said device over a prescribed course to. present a succession of targets, and means for recording the time at which each of said targets is presented.

25. In a system of the character described, a field, a missile adapted to be directed from an aeroplane towardsaid field and including a recording device for recording the time at which said missile strikes said field,

a plurality of operable target devices located on said field, and commoncontrol means for selectively actuating said devices to project a succession of targets along a predetermined course.

26. In a system of the character described, a field, a missile adapted to be directed from an aeroplane toward'said field and including a recording device for recording the time at which said missile strikes said field, a plurality of operable target devices located on said field, common control means for selec tively actuating said devices to project a succession of targets along a predetermined course, and means for recording the time at' which each target is projected.

27. In a system of the character described, a field, a plurality of missiles adapted to be directed from aeroplanes toward said field, means for recording the time at which the respective missiles strike the field, a plural ity of operable target devices located on said field, and means for so actuating said devices as to present asuc-cession of targets.

28. In a system of the character'described, a field, a plurality of missilesadapted to be directed from aeroplanes toward said field, means for recording the time at which the respective missiles strike the field, a plurality of operable target devices located on said field, means for so actuating said devices as to present a succession of targets, and means for recording the time at which each target is presented.

29. In a system of the character described, a field, a missile adapted to be directed from an aeroplane toward said field, means for .IQCOl'tllIlg the tune at which said missile cession of targets. and means for recording the time at which each target is presented.

31. In a system of the character described,

a field, a plurality of operable target devices located on said field and spaced from each other, and means for so actuating said devices over a prescribed course as to progressively present a succession of targets simulating a constantly forwardly moving body.

32. Ina system of the character described, a field, a plurality of operable target devices located on said field and spaced from each other, and selective means for actuating certain of'said devices to present a succession of targets over a predetermined course.

i 33. In a system of the character described, a field, a pluralityof operable target devices located on said field and spaced from each other, and common control means for actuating said devices to progressively project a succession of targetssimulating a constantly forwardly moving body.

34;. In asystem of the character described,

a field, a plurality of operable target de vices located on said field and spaced from each other, means for actuating said devices to present a succession of targets, and means for recording the time at which each of said targets is presented.

In testimony whereof, I have afiixed my signature to this specification;

ARTHUR W. PARSONS. 

